Wire fence



' 2 sheetssheet 1. H. "I-IAYNES. WIRE FENCE.

Patented Deo. 5, 1893.

1HE NAnonAL LrrHaeRAFHma r 2 sheets-snm 2'. H. HAYNES. WIRE FENCE(No-Model.)

No. 510,257. Patented D55. 5, 189s.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY HAYNES, OF COLDWATER, MICHIGAN.

WIRE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,257, dated December5, 1893.

Application filed October 31, 1892. Serial No. 450,496. (No model.)

To all whom it' may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY HAYNEs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Coldwater, in the county of Branch and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire Fences, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

The invention consists in the peculiar construction of a wire fence, andlparticularly in the peculiar construction of a tension device, all asmore fully hereinafter described.

In the drawings, Figure lis an elevation of a fence embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation showing a slightly modifiedform of the same and with one of the end posts partly in section. Fig. 3is a similar view with an end post in section showing anothermodification. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the two end postsas shown in Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the end postshown in Fig. 2. tached perspective view of a part of the ten- Sionbracket.

A and B (Fig. l) are the two end posts.

C are the brace posts secured a short distance in advance of the endposts.

D are braces extending from the top of the end posts to the bottom ofthe brace posts,

and E are tie rods extending from the top of the brace posts to thebottom of the end posts, giving a firm support for the end of the fencestructure to resist the strain pnt upon the wires by the tension device.

F is a series of wires of a suitable size or design extending from oneend post to the other through suitable intermediate posts G which areplaced as often as necessary and suitable stays H intermediate of theposts, the construction of which will be hereinafter more fully setforth.

The object of my invention is to put an even tension upon all the wiresin the fence and to so construct them that any ordinary contraction orexpansion will be taken up by a spring, but providinga tension spoolwhich when the spring has been compressed to its limit upon theapplication of undue pressure will automatically relax and re-lock topre- Fig. 6 is a dep vent the breaking of the wire. To accomplish thisend I preferably provide each wire separately with a spring tensiondevice and a winding device applied at opposite ends 'of the fencesection, as shown in Fig. l. Instead of applying these devices atopposite ends they may be applied at the same ends, as shown in Fig. 2,or it may be satisfactory in certain instances where but short sectionsof fence are to be built, to use an equalizing lever with a singlespring having three wires, each wire in such group being-,provided witha winding tension device or drum. This construction I show in Fig. 3. InFig. l the wires are shown as passed through the two end posts, the endpost A being provided on its outer face with sockets through which thewires pass centrally and in which springs I engage, the end of the wirebeing secured to the cross-bar or pin J, extending across the outer endof the spring at the other end, as shown in Fig. 4. 'lhis cross-barIpreferably provide With an eye K extending into the spring in which theend of the wire is secured.` Upon the outer face of the end post B, Isecure a drum or spindle tension device, one for each wire of theconstruction shownr in Fig. 4.

L is a bracket secured to the post and apertured to allow the wire topass centrally through the same. At its ends this bracket is providedwith flanges M in the end of which are formed the half bearings M.

O is a shaft or spindle which is journaled in the halt` bearings,beingheld therein by the tension of the wire, the end of which passesthrough an aperture P, the wire being held thereon by turning thespindle and ceiling the wire about the same, as plainly shown in Fig. 5.

Q is a wheel formed on the spindle O within the flanges M and having theteeth Q formed on its outer face. These teeth form ratchet teeth but thelocking face thereof instead of being square as in ordinaryconstructions or ratchet wheels, has a beveled face, as shown at S.

T is a wheel formed on the spindle O within the anges M leaving asuitable Winding space between the two wheels and having a conical IOO-bearing T engaging in the half bearings M on the flange of the bracket.

U is a lug or tooth on the bracket in the path of the ratchet teeth Qhaving a slightly inclined face U against which the beveled face S ofthe tooth is adapted to engage.

V is a squared end of the shaft or spindle upon which a crank or wrenchis to be placed to turn the same.

The operation of this device is as follows: The Wire being stretchedfrom end to end of the section and secured through the spring, as shownin Figs. l and 4 at one end, at the other end it is passed through theaperture in the spindle O and that spindle is rotated in its bearinguntil the proper tension is given to the wire. The engagement of thebevel face S against the face U of the tooth U will prevent the spindlefrom turning to release the tension, the pitch given to these facesbeing such as to form a lock under ordinary tension and at the same timethe conical face T acts to oppose any end motion of the spindle whichwould release the ratchet wheel from the tooth U. In case thecontraction of the wire is sufficient to compress the spring K to itslimit any further contraction will overcome the friction of the bevelface S against the inclined face U forcing the spindle endwise againstthe friction of the conical bearing, allowing the spindle to unwind aquarter turn or more according to the tension. As soon as the apex ofthe tooth Q passes the tooth U, the conical bearing T will force thespindle longitudinally and cause the next tooth to engage and hold thewire until the tension has increased sufliciently to repeat theoperation just described. Thus I absolutely prevent any possibility ofthe Wires breaking under any circumstances, on account of thecontraction thereof. Instead of putting the spring and the spindle atopposite ends they may be placed at the same end by forming the bracketwith a sleeve W, as shown in Fig. 5, sliding within the spring.

In Fig. 3 I have shown the spool tension device for each wire on thepost A, while on the post B I have shown the wires arranged in twogroups of three each, the wires of each group being connected at theends and centrai of equalizing levers ct, a single spring T beingarranged centrally of the lever.

H is a stay having eyes b through which the wires pass, and ornamentalloops c.

That I claim as my invention is l. In a fence, the combination of theend posts, a wire stretched between the same, and an automaticallyreleasing tension drum applied to said Wire having a conical bearingsurface for retaining the drum in its initial position substantially asdescribed.

2. In a fence, the combination of the end posts, of a wire stretchedbetween the same, a tension spring and an automatically releasingtension drum applied to said wire having a conical bearing surface forreturning the drum to its initial position, substantially as described.

3. In a fence, the combination of the end posts, a series of wiresstretched between the same, spiral springs engaging in sockets in theouter face of one end post, cross bars to which the ends of the wiresengage bearing against the ends of said spring and a winding drum foreach wire consisting of a sliding shaft having locking means at one endand a conical hearing at the opposite end, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the post, the bracket, the winding drum journaledin the bracket, having a ratcheted head engaging a lug, and a conicalbearing acting to shift the ratchet into its locked position,substantially as described.

5. The combination of the post, the bracket having two end anges withhalf bearings therein, a shaft journaled in said bearings, a ilange onthe shaft, a ratchet on the face of said flange engaging a lug on thebracket, and a conical bearing at one end of said shaft engaging one ofthe half bearings and acting to shift the ratchet into its lockedposition, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I ailx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY HAYNES.

lVitnesses:

N. L. LINDoP, M. B. ODOGHERTY.

